Report: MLB Considering Shorter Disabled List for Concussions

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Report: MLB Considering Shorter Disabled List for Concussions

With all the discussion about concussions centering around high-contact sports like football and hockey, Major League Baseball is also preparing a proactive stance in keeping concussed athletes from getting back on the field – albeit in an odd way.

According to the Associated Press, MLB is laying the groundwork for the creation of a specialized seven-day disabled list for players diagnosed with concussions. Indeed, while the NFL and NHL typically address concussion diagnosis and prevention with more urgency, concussions are more common in baseball than one might think, as any fastball to the head or collision in the outfield can certainly bring one on.

No word yet on what has spurred the action, which could be implemented as soon as next season, although the sport has had to confront some serious incidents this season alone. Jason LaRue was forced to retire earlier this month after an August fight resulted in his being kicked in the head repeatedly by a Cincinnati Reds pitcher. Twins slugger Justin Morneau was also knocked out for half of the year after taking a knee to the head during a slide into second base on July 7.

Right now, baseball operates both a 15- and 60-day disabled list, for injuries of varying severity. While a player is on such a list, his team can call up a minor leaguer to fill their slot on the active roster. It should be interesting to see – if such a list comes to fruition – how quickly teams will take to placing concussed players on the list, and how quickly they might ultimately be moved to the 15- and 60-day lists, especially as symptoms persist.

And that's the real question here. While a 7-day DL would show that baseball wants to address concussions and brain trauma, why create a separate designation? Is the 15-day disabled list too long to sideline players with diagnosed concussions? If anything, the move implies that forms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are some sort of second-class injury, something that merely requires a few days to shake off.

As we're learning, concussions and related TBI can lead to all sorts of long-term mental deficiency, and sending ballplayers back out before they're completely recovered – a time frame that is unique to every case – certainly sends the wrong message.